We will be explaining the stage of
ruci (taste for bhajana). When ruci comes there is no chance of
falling down  at least it is very, very rare that one may fall.
At that stage raganuga-bhakti, the greed to serve Sri Sri
Radha-Krsna like the Vrajavasis will arise. When ruci comes there
is a taste in chanting, remembering, hearing hari-katha,
worshipping, cooking and serving in all ways. Sometimes devotees who
are not in the stage of ruci want to pretend that they are. This
is not good; we should not do this. If ruci has come, one will
taste something of para-tattva, the supreme truth. It has been
written in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.42):

[Devotion, direct
experience of the Supreme Lord, and detachment from other things 
these three occur simultaneously for one who has taken shelter of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the same way that pleasure,
nourishment and relief from hunger come simultaneously and
increasingly, with each bite, for a person engaged in
eating.]

When ruci manifests, many prayers and
songs about serving Sri Sri Radha-Krsna like the Vrajavasis
automatically come in the heart. One such prayer is as follows:

[My dear Lord, I therefore pray to be so fortunate that in
this life as Lord Brahma or in another life, wherever I take my
birth, I may be counted as one of Your devotees. I pray that
wherever I may be, even among the animal species, I can engage in
devotional service to Your lotus feet. (Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.14.30)]

When Lord Brahma saw the opulence of
Sri Krsna, he prayed, Whether I take birth in human form or in any
species of life  even if my birth is an insect there is no harm.
I want the association of elevated sadhus, and in their guidance I
want to serve You. O Lord Krsna, I will consider myself fortunate
if I can attain this. After that he prayed:

[My greatest possible good fortune would be to take
any birth in this forest of Gokula and have my head bathed by
the dust falling from the lotus feet of any of its residents.
Their entire life and soul is the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Mukunda, the dust of whose lotus feet is still being searched for
in the Vedic mantras. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.34)]

Tad bhuri-bhagyam iha  I will be very fortunate if I take
birth in Vrndavana, in any way and in any species of life. In
India there are street sweepers who clean away stool and other
things. They will sweep away the rubbish of householders, and when
they return to their homes they want rub their feet on a piece of
stone to remove the dirt. So Lord Brahma prays, I want to be any
piece of a stone in Gokula upon which they will rub their feet. He
didn't dare to say that he wants to be a Vrajavasi, or that he
wants to take the feet dust of any specific person. Still, he is
so fortunate that he has such deep honor for the Vrajavasis that
he prays in this way.

He also prays, Krsna is
causelessly merciful. He gave the demoness Putana a high class of
liberation by giving her a motherly position  a position as a
nurse in Goloka  after her death. The Vrajavasis actually serve
Sri Krsna like a mother; so what remains for Krsna to give them 
if He has already given Putana position like a mother? What will
He give to the gopis who actually have affection for Him and serve
Him as a son? We cannot imagine what He will have to do for them.

Lord Brahma remembers the sweet pastimes of the
gopis: By hearing the melody vibrated on the flute of Krsna, they
left their homes. They left aside what they were cooking and also
their service to their husbands. They left aside properly putting on
their ornaments and in their hurry to meet Krsna they put the
ornaments meant for certain limbs of their bodies on other limbs.

Many also put kajal only on one eye. There is a
place in Vraja called Anjanauka, where Krsna played on His flute
and where all the gopis went there to meet with Him. Srimati Radhika
was also there, and previous to Her coming She had put kajal on
only one eye. Krsna asked Her, Why did You put kajal on only one
eye? She replied Oh, my sakhis were putting kajal on Me, but I
was in a hurry and could not remain at home. I quickly ran here."
Krsna then completed the service of putting on Her kajal with His
own hand. When Krsna does this, how pleasing it is for Srimati
Radhika. It was for this that She ran there.

When
the gopis arrive at a place where Krsna played on His flute to
call them, they tell Him, Why did You call us  and then tell us
to return back home and serve our husbands? How can we go
back?

[Until today our minds were absorbed in
household affairs, but You easily stole both our minds and our
hands away from our housework. Now our feet won't move one step from
Your lotus feet. How can we go back to Vraja? What would we do
there? (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.29.34)]

We were
very much interested and involved in our household activities, but
now You very easily took away our hearts. If our hearts are not
with us, how can our senses do anything? You tell us to return to
our homes, but how can we go back without our hearts, and what
will we do there? We cannot return."

And other gopis
tell Him, O Nanda-nandana, are You thinking that we have come to
take Your darsana and be with You? Dont think like this! We have
come here to execute our household duties, like bringing flowers
for our homes. You think that we have come for You? Never think
like this. You cannot take our hearts; we know this. How can You
take them? We have come to this forest to see its beauty and to
collect some flowers, wood, fruits and other paraphernalia. We
have not come for You. We have met You simply by chance, but You
are so greedy that You want us to stay with You. We will not stay
with You for even for a moment." Saying this, they began to leave
for their homes, and Krsna began to pray, Oh, dont go. Listen to
Me.

[All the demigods and their exalted qualities, such as religion,
knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one who
has developed unalloyed devotion for the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Vasudeva. On the other hand, a person devoid of
devotional service and engaged in material activities has no good
qualities Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or
the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he
must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in
the service of the Lords external energy How can there be any
good qualities in such a man? (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.18.12)]

All good qualities and these kind of prayers manifest
in the devotees heart at the time of ruci. When ruci perfectly
matures it then comes to asakti. Ruci is still there, but at the
same time, it transforms into asakti. In other words asakti is the
more condensed form of ruci. Ruci is in the middle of all the
processes of bhakti, and it is therefore called madhyahana-bhajana.
Similarly, Sri Krsnas midday pastimes are called madhyahana-lila. In
madhyahana-lila Krsna has gone to the forest with millions of cows
and millions of friends, roaming from one forest to another.
There, the boys play many types of pastimes such as playing on
their flutes and buffalo horns. When it is midday Krsna plays a
trick. He makes an excuse to leave and tells His cowherd friends,
Wait a little. I am coming back very soon with Madhumangala. Now
it is too hot to be here so You should take some rest. I am coming
back very soon. He quickly goes from there to Radha-kunda and
meets with Srimati Radharani, and after that He again meets Her at
Surya-kunda.

Nearby to Radha-kunda is
Kusuma-sarovara, and sometimes the sakhis wait for Him there.
Kusuma-sarovara is full with flowering trees. Once, knowing that
Srimati Radhika would soon be coming with Her sakhis, Krsna
climbed one of those trees and hid Madhumangala somewhere nearby.
Srimati Radhika then came with all Her sakhis, because She wanted
to pick some flowers to make a garland for Krsna. She began to hold
on to one of the high branches and pick flowers from it, and that
branch happened to be the same branch upon which Krsna had placed
all His weight. While Srimati Radhika was picking flowers, Krsna
removed His weight from that branch, it flew upward, and Radhika
was left hanging and crying. Krsna then quickly jumped from the
tree and caught Her.

Radhika flying up with the branch and crying out as Sri Krsna jumps off

Srimati Radhika and Sri Krsna also meet at
Surya-kunda, a place of very sweet pastimes. Srimati Radhika comes
there with all Her sakhis to worship Mitra. Mitra has two meanings 
one meaning is the Sun-god and the other meaning is friend. In
truth Mitra is Krsna, and for the purpose of pretence, there is a
Sun temple there at Surya-kunda

Srimati Radhika
sent Srimati Lalita-devi to search for any good brahmana to
perform the worship of the Sun. As Lalita was searching, Jatila
arrived there and asked Srimati Radhika, Why are you late?
Srimati Radhika replied, We have sent Lalita and Visakha to
search for a brahmana. A blackish and very effulgent priest came
there at that time, and Madhumangala came as His assistant. They both
disguised themselves so that no one would recognize them. Wearing
sacred threads, they looked just like brahmana boys. Lalita told
Jatila, Oh, I searched in so many places, and finally I saw these
brahmanas. This black one is very high class and learned, and He
knows how to perform all varieties of worship. When I requested
him to come he said, I will not go. I dont perform worship for
ladies I cannot do this. I told Him that He could do it from far
away, so He has now agreed and has come. But he will not look
towards any ladies. Jatila became very happy and said, Please
begin Your worship.

Sri Krsna began to chant
the mantra om mitraya namah. What is the meaning? I am
surrendering to Mitra. Mitra means both Surya and friend. Jatila
thought that this was the mantra of Suryadeva but it was actually
the mantra of Krsna. When the worship was completed, Jatila very
happily said, Give some ornaments to this brahmana. Radhika
refused to give the donation directly. She placed them in the hand of
her mother-in-law, who offered them to Krsna, but that black
brahmana refused and said, What need do I have of these
ornaments? I will not touch them. I dont need it. I am satisfied.
I came by your request, without desire for such remuneration. I am
the disciple of Garga Rsi, so I cannot touch any donation from a
lady. I am simply satisfied with the hearts of the Vrajavasis. He
thought within himself, I have taken the heart, the most valuable
thing, and He was satisfied. Jatila was so happy to hear this,
and now she appreciated the brahmana still more. But Madhumangala
requested, You should give the ornaments to me; I will keep
them. Jatila then gave him the ornaments and some laddus also 
Vraja laddus which are very sweet. So Jatila was very happy and so
was Madhumangala. Srimati Radhika and Her friends then went with
Jatila to their homes, and Krsna and Madhumangala went back to
their friends who were waiting for them.

Madhumangala kept those ornaments and laddus wrapped in his cloth.
All of Krsnas friends were embracing Him, asking. Where were
You. We were waiting for You. All were sitting there and Baladeva
Prabhu said, O my brother, this Madhumangala is not telling us
anything. He must be hiding something. He asked him, Do you have
something to eat? Having been sitting there very gravely and
silently, Madhumangala now replied, Dont ask me. He took that
bundle and kept it close to him so that no one would be able to
take it. But Baladeva Prabhu said to him, You are a brahmana boy,
you should not be so greedy. He and the other cowherd boys came
closer to him and quickly they took the parcel, happy and
clapping, and Madhumangala became angry. Taking hold of his sacred
thread, as Durvasa Rsi would, he said, I will curse you! I must
curse you, unless you return my bundle. In the meantime the boys
ate all the laddus, and Madhumangala began to weep bitterly as he
told them, I am going to Nanda Baba to complain. If Nanda Baba
will not do anything to help me I will go to Kamsa Maharaja in
Mathura and complain to him. He will surely take action. Krsna
then embraced him, saying Oh, I will give you My laddu, and
somehow pacified him.

These are some of the
pastimes that take place at this time. This madhyahna-lila is the
best among all the lilas in asta yam (the eight periods of Sri
Radha-Krsnas 24 hour day) and the most long-lasting. In those
lilas there are many meetings, many varieties of moods
(asta-sattvika bhavas), and they have been written about in Sri
Ujjvala-nilamani.

There is so much joking and
playing in the pastimes of dola kola (swinging) and vamsi chori
(stealing of Sri Krsnas flute). Speaking about Sri Krsna's flute,
the gopis tell each other, "This is our greatest enemy." When they
played dice Srimati Radhika defeated Sri Krsna and stole it when
He wasn't looking. She gave it to Srimati Visakha-devi who gave it
to Srimati Lalita-devi. Lalita gave it to Citra who then gave it
to Indulekha. Thus it went on, and they hid it very far away from
Sri Krsnas view. When the gambling was over, He noticed that His
flute was missing and said, Where is My vamsi, where is My
vamsi? Srimati Radharani told Him It is with Lalita. He went
to Lalita and she said she had given it to Visakha. Krsna kept
searching here and there, weeping, Where is my vamsi? Citra then
told Him Oh, it is with Srimati Radhika. He ran towards Srimati
Radhika who had hidden it in Her garment. Sri Krsna said, You
have stolen my vamsi  not vamsi  My life and soul. What will I
do? Now I am like a lame man because My vamsi is not with me. How
can I collect all the cows? How can I call all the sakhas if I have
no vamsi? Srimati Radhika replied, You should sing instead,
and You can use Your stick to collect the cows. O Radhika, I
cannot do this. You have taken My life by stealing My vamsi. I cannot
remain alive without My vamsi. You should realize My suffering.
Don't You realize how sad I am? Please be merciful to Me. Where is
my vamsi? You should return it. In this way, Krsna begged Srimati
Radhika to return His vamsi

In this way there are so
many pastimes in madhyahna-lila, the best and most long-lasting
period of the day. It is even better than madhyaratri, the
midnight pastimes. Sometimes Krsna plays in the Yamuna, sometimes
He eats forest fruits, and sometimes He pretends to be sleeping. He
engages in unlimited varieties of pastimes which are written about
in Sri Govinda-lilamrta and Sri Krsna-bhavanamrta. In this way
they are all serving Sri Krsna and Srimati Radhika. This is the
madhyahna-lila.

Next we will come to
aparahana-lila, and that corresponds to the stage of krsna-asakti
(spontaneous attachment to the object of their bhajana, Sri Krsna.
Devotees in the stage of asakti will remember and meditate on
pastimes like these. Remembering them, they will think, How my
days and nights have passed away in a moment! Sri Svarupa
Damodara and Sri Raya Ramananda remember all these sweet pastimes and
sing the kirtanas of Sri Gita-Govinda and Sai, Keva Sunailo
Syama-Nama by Sri Candidasa.

["O My dear sakhi, who is that
person who first made Me hear this name "Syama"? When it enters My
heart through My ears, I become overwhelmed with impatience."
(Sai, Keva Sunailo Syama-nama verse 1)]

Srimati
Radhika says, Who is making Me hear that sweet krsna-nama? By My
hearing it, this name has stolen My heart. Why did it do so? Now I
am totally mad. Now I am soul-less and lifeless. If the name of
Krsna is so influential, then what to speak of Krsna's presence in
His form? He lives in Gokula, so how will the gopis be able to
protect their chastity here?" Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to hear
the padyavalis of Sri Candidasa, Sri Vidyapati, Sri Jayadeva
Gosvami, Sri Bilvamangala Thakura and others like them, and His
nights passed in a moment in this state: sometimes lamenting,
sometimes weeping, sometimes falling down and rolling on the
ground, and sometimes becoming unconscious. A devotee in this
stage will remember the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and
chant: "Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare."

Lust is a big problem for
Western devotees, but if they will remember these pastimes, all their
impurities will be washed away and their hearts will be refreshed.
This is the only remedy, and I have heard that Srila Bhaktivedanta
Swami Maharaja also said this. When someone wrote to him saying,
"I am very lusty, what should I do? He replied You should hear
rasa-lila, the most powerful pastimes of Krsna, and you will very
soon be pure. It is not that these pastimes are bad. It is only bad
to try to imitate them. You can remember them in the mood of a
prayer, but you must not think, I will do like Krsna.

["One who is not a great controller should
never imitate the behavior of ruling personalities, even mentally.
If out of foolishness an ordinary person does imitate such behavior,
he will simply destroy himself, just as a person who is not Rudra
would destroy himself if he tried to drink an ocean of poison."
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.33.30)]

Such imitation will
be like a very powerful poison for you. Therefore, only those who
are qualified should try to remember  not all. First of all
prayers should be uttered to come through the stage of
anartha-nivrtti.

I have described many elevated
and sweet pastimes of Lord Krsna, and I have also explained the
process of bhakti from sraddha, to nistha, and up to ruci and
asakti. If you try to follow this process totally, you will be
very soon qualified to successfully meditate on these pastimes.

I am giving my blessings and so many thanks to
those who have arranged this festival and called all the devotees
 to the cooking department and management department and all other
departments. I am also very happy that the senior-most and sincere
devotees of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja are here, hearing
patiently. Many thanks to them, because they can very easily take
the essence of our classes, and they can preach and help juniors.
I request that they help them. If there is no hari-katha the
devotees are bound to be weak. I request you to try to carry out
and develop all the Krsna conscious programs.

There
are so many devotees here, and among them many children. The
children should be educated in the bhakti line. It will be very
helpful for them if, from the beginning, they are trained in this
way: I request you to start a school very soon. If there is no
place and you have to rent a place, you can do that. I think there
are many ladies who are teachers. They can come and we should try
to give them maintenance so that they can work. This should be
done very soon. Dont criticize or quarrel. Be under guidance and
thus progress and develop your Krsna consciousness.

About Purebhakti

We publish in written and audio form the transcendental sound vibrations that have eminated from self realized Spiritual Masters in the line of Sri Krsna and in recent times, His manifestation as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1482 AD).